Tractors and wood! Show your pics

[Jstpssng]

Ok. Thanks john mc and jstpsssg. I have one ordered. It’s being delivered. I have a little buyers remorse. Also, don’t want to be tough on the little tractor. It’s a 35m. Mahindra 2816hst. So only 21 pto hp.

What did you get for a winch? Used properly, it's a handy tool.

Your tractor is very similar in weight and horsepower to the L275 Kubota which I learned on. I had an old, beat up Fransgard winch and when I first used it would drag more than the tractor's weight... thrashing and tearing, pulling myself forward with the bucket... it's a wonder that I didn't tear that little tractor in two.
I finally learned that 1/4 cord at a time was all that it wanted to pull. Once I realized that things went a lot faster and easier.

You're used to pulling wood behind small equipment and will do fine. Just go slow and steaddy, like you did with the Bombardiers.
The biggest thing to be careful about is getting a hitch caught on a stump; that's just one reason why John M said to only do straight pulls.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Yeah I’m not too rough on gear. But a gentle pull from these winches from what I’ve see, puts a lot of force on those 3pt links. Especially that top link from the geometry the way I picture it. No doubt the lower pulley would look like it would reduce top link force a little. I imagine when folks skid using the top pulley and not the lower winch frame , that the log tugging must put some shock load on that top link too

I have a Farmi 290 winch on my 30 hp L3010. The 290 does not have a lower pulley and you can see that the top pulley is above the top link by quite a bit.

I have used this winch for 20 years and made quite a few hard pulls w/o any 3ph problems what so ever. Just keep your pull pretty much straight back and you will be fine. Your tractor will move back before you brake anything if you do that.

You have been given good advise from others. Start with small stuff and run with a low RPM, 1200 say - just above idle - even at slow winching speed things happen very fast. Learn to stop your pull before the log gets jammed or on the wrong side of a stump/tree. It is 10 times easier to move it over with your peavy before it is stuck. Watch your cable. It will tell you what is happening with your tension. Have fun, pay attention, and work safe.

gg

 

[Gordon Gould]

VroomVroom you might want to read this: Farmi.doc. It explains that using the top pulley while winching is preferred because it gives your winch cable a downward angle. The downward angle is what provides the force to drive your dozer blade into the ground which holds the winch back relieving stress from your 3ph. Using the lower pulley to winch flattens the cable so there is much less force driving the winch into the ground so that the tractor is the only thing holding the winch back. The lower pulley is for skidding. Because of the lower pull point it is safer especially in turns where you get side pull. Also if you absolutely have to winch at an angle the lower pulley is better because you are less likely to go over sideways from the pull.

NOTE: It would let me attach a .doc file - but it just repeats what I said above.

gg

 

[John_Mc]

NOTE: It would let me attach a .doc file - but it just repeats what I said above.

I assume you meant it would NOT let you attach a .doc file. If you open it in MS Word, you should be able to "save as..." and then choose PDF as the file format. The forum software will let you attach a PDF file.

 

[Gordon Gould]

I assume you meant it would NOT let you attach a .doc file. If you open it in MS Word, you should be able to "save as..." and then choose PDF as the file format. The forum software will let you attach a PDF file.

Thanks J_Mc - yes, would not is what I meant to say. Worked just like you said it would.

Farmi.pdf attached

gg

 

[John_Mc]

you might want to read this: Farmi.doc. It explains that using the top pulley while winching is preferred because it gives your winch cable a downward angle. The downward angle is what provides the force to drive your dozer blade into the ground which holds the winch back relieving stress from your 3ph. Using the lower pulley to winch flattens the cable so there is much less force driving the winch into the ground so that the tractor is the only thing holding the winch back. The lower pulley is for skidding. Because of the lower pull point it is safer especially in turns where you get side pull. Also if you absolutely have to winch at an angle the lower pulley is better because you are less likely to go over sideways from the pull.

After reading this, I realized I have probably only used my lower pulley a couple dozen times in almost 15 years of winch ownership. Almost all of my twitching is from the upper pulley. Once I have them winched in, if I were skidding them out on the cable, I would use the lower pulley. However, I almost never skid on the cable. I hook the chokers in the slots on the top of the blade.

 

[VroomVroom]

An old pile of rounds gone to waste. Makes a heluva burn pile though. All we need are some weenies and s'mores fixin's.

My gal gets mad if I bring those home. I’m cutting the wood wrong she says.

 

[VroomVroom]

Thanks J_Mc - yes, would not is what I meant to say. Worked just like you said it would.

Farmi.pdf attached

gg

It downloaded just fine in “files” on my phone. Interesting.

Jstpssg, I got a uniforest 35m. Maybe I should of looked over other models but I think all the brands are good. I’m sure it will be fine.

 

[VroomVroom]

What did you get for a winch? Used properly, it's a handy tool.

Your tractor is very similar in weight and horsepower to the L275 Kubota which I learned on. I had an old, beat up Fransgard winch and when I first used it would drag more than the tractor's weight... thrashing and tearing, pulling myself forward with the bucket... it's a wonder that I didn't tear that little tractor in two.
I finally learned that 1/4 cord at a time was all that it wanted to pull. Once I realized that things went a lot faster and easier.

You're used to pulling wood behind small equipment and will do fine. Just go slow and steaddy, like you did with the Bombardiers.
The biggest thing to be careful about is getting a hitch caught on a stump; that's just one reason why John M said to only do straight pulls.

Uniforest 35 m

 

[Jstpssng]

It downloaded just fine in “files” on my phone. Interesting.

Jstpssg, I got a uniforest 35m. Maybe I should of looked over other models but I think all the brands are good. I’m sure it will be fine.

There are 3 of those in town including mine, all behind Kubota L3301 tractors. They seem to be solid winches. I believe that is also what John Mc has, and he is quite knowledgeable about small woodlot production in general, as well as using tractors to cut wood.
I think that you will be glad that you bought it.